Riot police clear marchers from outside a Dakota Access Pipeline worker camp. Protesters were drawing attention to violence against Native American women, exacerbated by the presence of mostly male work crews.

November 15, 2016

Riot police clear marchers from outside a Dakota Access Pipeline worker camp. Protesters were drawing attention to violence against Native American women, exacerbated by the presence of mostly male work crews.

Standing Rock

Contemporary Issues, first prize stories

November 15, 2016

Riot police clear marchers from outside a Dakota Access Pipeline worker camp. Protesters were drawing attention to violence against Native American women, exacerbated by the presence of mostly male work crews.

The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is a 1,886-kilometer-long underground oil pipeline project designed to transport oil from North Dakota to a shipping terminal in Illinois, USA. By 2016, most of the pipeline was complete, but the section closest to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation still awaited federal approval. The Standing Rock Sioux people opposed the DAPL, fearing water contamination and damage to sacred tribal sites. A stretch of the pipeline was set to run under the Missouri River—the prime source of drinking water for the reservation. Large protests at Lake Oahe gained national and international attention. Traditional religious ceremonies and prayer formed part of the day at the protesters’ camp.

About the photographer

Amber Bracken

Amber Bracken is a member of Rogue Collective and lifelong Albertan covering assignments across the province and farther from home.

Amber Bracken is a member of Rogue Collective and lifelong Albertan covering assignments across the province and farther from home.

After getting her start as a staffer in daily newspapers, she has moved on to a freelance career and the pursuit of long-term projects. She has since worked with many clients, including The Globe and Mail, BuzzFeed, Reuters, Maclean's, The Canadian Press, Postmedia and Canadian Geographic.

In her personal work, Amber's interest is in the intersection of photography, journalism and public service with a special focus on issues affecting Indigenous people. With the rise of movements like Idle No More, communities are increasingly empowered to fight for a more just relationship with the government and non-native people. She is looking for ways to represent and foster that strength. With that intention, Amber has been building relationships in Indigenous communities and starting to document important issues around culture, environment and the effects of inter generational trauma from colonialism.